RP:In the Den of the Jackal and the Wolf

Part of the Once Upon a Midnight Dreary Arc

Summary: While scouting out Rynvale Island, Quintessa drops by to visit her old friend Mahri. After the wolf goes to bed, however, Quintessa confronts Lita about a perceived betrayal. The two women have a heart to heart and clear the air, coming away knowing a little bit more about each other.

Beachside Villa

A worn path edged by beach primrose leads up to the stained-teak porch of this spacious, seaside villa. The foundation is built upon thick stilts that lift this island architecture only a few feet above the sand, allowing that ocean breeze to flow under the house to keep it naturally cool, as well as providing safety from a high tide flood. The interior beyond is simple: wicker and wood furniture, a short bar and bottle rack built into a back wall. Rooms for rest remain behind closed doors, and only a few exotic trinkets line the shelves. Large, open windows are dressed with the vintage, velvet curtains selected long ago by it's original owner, framing that paradise view of tumbling waves and swaying bitter panicum.

Outside, a shell chime clatters softly in the wind. The old hammock remains, swaying with a rhythm to the neighboring water.

Lita has been absent more than she's been around lately. Not on purpose. Trying to keep Cal's boys in line while working with the Houses in Vailkrin had proved troublesome on some fronts. Mostly because they were humans and mouthy. Which wasn't such a problem on the island. Cal let 'em off with a lot as long as they showed up, worked hard and stayed loyal. In Vailkrin, that shyte got 'em dead. Lita was not used to playing peace maker or liasion but it seemed safer than sending Cal. When she was home, she kept missing Mahri, who seemed to be busy with her own things lately. Which was fine but also damn did she miss her. She certainly doesn't hate coming home to a beach house and a bed that smells like her. Though she should probably redecorate. She never had changed much of the interior from when Leo had built the place. She'd never cared enough to and never had anyone else around much to change it for. Xiem had rebuilt the back deck and put in the stone ring firepit out back, but that was about it. She's stretched out there now, fire still going and a bottle of whiskey lounging on the cushioned seat next to her. Legs stretched out, bare toes on the center ring where the fire was. Watching the ocean roll in behind the flames. She was still wearing the dress from the day prior, a navy sundress with dark gold embellishment up the front, frills of dark purple and silver around the hem. She'd have to get it cleaned properly if she wanted to keep it but she'd been hoping to show Mah first.

Mahri trudged the path to the beach house, a bottle of Larket’s best dangling from her fingers. Her path might not be as straight as the one she’s walking, but she’ll eventually make her destination – which would be the bed she seems to occasionally share with Lita these days. She wouldn’t say she missed the vampire; but she also wouldn’t say she didn’t either. Pausing, the she-wolf tips the bottle back to her lips and cursed finding it empty. Tossing it aside with a crash and tinkle of glass, Mahri runs a hand through her hair and puffs out her cheeks before blowing out a breath. Continuing on, Mahri catches something on the salt-tang of ocean air. Silver eyes light up, immediately recognizing the scent of her vampire. Mah’s pace picked up and if Lita hadn’t scented or noticed her, she’s gonna be folded into a hug from behind, the she-wolf burying her nose in the crook between neck and shoulder for a quick nuzzle before settling near enough to grab that bottle of whiskey and take a swig. It’s not until after that swallow she notices the gown and her eyes widen. “Did I miss a date night?”

Quintessa is in Port Rynvale tonight for a very specific reason; feeling out potential places to spend her time in exile. She had poked around some places in Lithyrdel and now here she was in the land of the rising sun, Rynvale Island. The changeling had popped into the Jolly Roger but when she didn’t see anyone there she headed to the private beach, looking for someone- anyone that she recognized. Trudging through the sand, barefoot and only wearing the smallest sundress she owned, Quintessa actually finds herself enjoying the night sea air, her long, raven hair blowing in the breeze, wild and free. It isn’t until she spots the seaside villa that Quintessa remembers why she’s here, and she picks up her pace as she makes a b-line for the home. “Hello?” Quintessa shouts, not even waiting until she had gotten to the door to knock or anything. “Anyone home? It’s me, Tessa. I came to visit… Surprise!~”

Lita isn't sloshed enough to miss Mahri's walk up to the beach house, but the crash of that bottle keeps her seated. If the she-wolf was in a mood, she could wait 'til morning to say hi. Or at least a few hours. But she doesn't have to make that decision, as Mahri greets her with a hug and steals her whiskey. "Nah, just a brief trip up to Enchantment for their summer festival something-or-other. Leo almost died, Lora saved the day." She shrugs briefly, eyeing Mahri up and down. "The usual." She grins and reaches for Mahri, aiming to drag her into her lap for a hug and a proper kiss. She would definitely say she'd missed her. If she was one to say such things. "And anyway, can't very well have a date night without my favorite girl." No dwelling on that as she cranes her neck around towards the house at the sound of a familiar voice. "Out back!" Lita calls out. She lifts a hand to Mahri's cheek and kisses her again before taking the bottle of whiskey from her. "Your friend's here, I think." She's got no problems with Tessa, just doesn't know her well. Mahri likes her and that's enough to know for now. She waits for Tessa to make her way through the house to join them out back. "Good to see yah again. There's glasses inside if you want a drink, or you're welcomed to share the bottle."

Mahri settles onto Lita’s lap and most definitely returns that very proper welcome-home kiss before replying to what she’d missed. “Sorry I missed it,” not really. She’d opened her mouth to tell Ace what she had been doing when that call rang out from the front of the cottage. Instead, she nestles in close to her lover and waits for Tessa to come through, with or without a glass. Mahri’s already holding the whiskey bottle for the changeling to pour or drink from – her choice. “Tessa, it's good to see you,” still alive, “anything new?”

Quintessa carefully makes her way out back, offering both women a wiggle of her fingers as a greeting. “Evening, my lovelies,” The changeling says, her voice pleasant and full of vigor. She seemed to be in a really good mood tonight. “I’m not interrupting anything am I?” She hesitantly asks, her mismatched eyes fixing upon them cuddling together. She had suspected the two were close but she had no idea just how close… Quintessa doesn’t mention this though as she helps herself to the bottle, moving to grab a glass for herself as she calls back to them. “It’s good to see you two too, but gods be good have I had a rough month…” She moves back into the room and fills her glass. “I’m an exile now. Can you believe it? Me, the savior of Vailkrin, an exile.” She smirks and takes a slow drink. “What about you two? Get kicked out of anywhere interesting lately?”

Lita is a little surprised that Mahri stays cuddled in her lap but doesn't hate it one bit. One arm snakes around the woman's waist, the other resting lazily over her legs as Tess regails them with this quick tale of being an exile. Lita is still trying to catch up. She was on the run, wasn't she? Then the savior? Now back to exile. Throw a dart and stay tuned for next week, folks. She makes a face that she hopes is empathetic-ish. "Not as of late. Leo's pretty lenient, but then I haven't stolen his couch yet, so we'll see how that goes." She snags the bottle from Mahri to fill Tessa's glass and then takes a drink for herself. "Mah was just about to share the trouble she's been up to, though." She squeezes her arm around Mah, half encouragement and half apology for putting her in the spotlight.

Mahri chuckles at Quintessa’s dramatics. Couldn’t help it, since Mahri knew only about half of what she’s done but had recently not been keeping up so well. “Ah, yes. Trouble. Well; lets see. I found out who is actually running the trading company and convinced Nortengaal to post as a betrothed couple to scope the guy out so tomorrow I need to talk to Loravelle about dressing like a girl and finding Nort appropriate clothes, then we’re going to break into a mansion to aggressively encourage him to do what I want instead,” Was that a run-on sentence? Yep. Because Mahri needed to get that out all in one go before side-eyeing Lita to get her reaction. “But, uh, otherwise…Nope, not been kicked out of anywhere recently!”

Quintessa gives a cheeky grin to Lita when she mentions potentially stealing Leo’s couch. “Well, I might need to help you do that soon so I can have something to sleep on. Hopefully he won’t be too mad.” Her attention shifts to Mahir next, Lita piquing Tessa’s curiosity by pointing out that Mahri was about to mention what she’s been getting up to. “Oh? Do tell.” She takes a long drink as she listens, her brow furrowing slightly as she imagines Mahri dressing up all girly. “A little clandestine action, I like it. Well, as it happens, Black Pond Boutiques has a line of identity concealing makeup that might in this situation. I’d be willing to just give some to you if you want.” She pauses to take another drink before she poses a new question. “Who’s Loravelle?” It occurred to Quintessa that she’s never heard of this person. “Is she another… Hanger-on?”

Lita is not a good poker player when actual cards are involved. Otherwise, jury's still out. Mention of Nort and Mah playing up as some cozy couple makes her quirk a brow but only that. She trusts Mah well enough, but things with Nort just made it complicated. Not that any of that seems like a conversation for mixed company. She takes another drink of whiskey instead. "What if he doesn't have a mind to be doin' what you want?" She asks suddenly. "You puttin' somebody in place as proxy?" She hadn't intended to talk business, exactly, and she looks sideways to Tessa for an assist here, "Please, tell 'er she can't go loppin' off heads left and right." She's smiling softly, an attempt made to veil her worry. But instead Tessa is encouraging this entirely. Fine, Lita will concede. "There you go. Tessa's got the hookup with the make-up." Lita would be horrible in that department. "Would get Lora over here tomorrow too, make a day of it." She glances back at Tessa when she asks who Lora was and blinks at her. "Leo's fiancé. Little mousy thing. Cute as a button. I'm sure you've seen her around maybe." She takes another drink, handing the bottle to Mahri. "Also, there's a spare room if you need a spot." She nods back up towards the beach house. "You're welcome to come and go. Kitchen sometimes has food in it." More often with Mahri around.

Mahri swings her attention around to Tessa, brows raising with interest. “How does that work, exactly? This make up?” Mahri has to take the bottle when Lora’s identity is questioned, mostly so she doesn’t laugh too much. Swallowing the mouthful and taking a breath, Mahri nods, “Yes. Mouse. She’s much more clever than I think a lot give her credit for.” Speaking of food, Mah’s stomach does that thing to announce it hasn’t been properly taken care of the last few days, and the booze just wasn’t cutting it anymore. “I’m here about as much as Lita is these days, but that’ll change soon. When this thing is done.” As an aside, the wolf mutters to the vampire, “I haven’t lopped anyone’s head off in forever. Thanks for bein’ a fun sucker.”

Quintessa‘s eyes flicker back and forth between Lita and Mahri as they speak, the corners of her lips curling up in amusement. “No, no, Lita’s right, don’t go chopping off people’s heads. That generally gives the wrong impression. People get touchy about it.” Quintessa grimaces humorlessly. “Listen, I’ll help but I’m not getting involved in any killing for a bit. My reputation for it has already been far too exaggerated.” When they explain who Loravelle is, Quintessa racks her brain thinking about it. “Is she that foreign woman? The one who dresses in green and timidly hides all the time? They’re getting married??” Quintessa seems in complete disbelief but she doesn’t let that slow her down any. “Well, you should introduce us sometime. I’m surprised I’ve never seen her at the Jolly Roger when I drop by.” Quintessa shrugs smugly as she raises her glass to her lips, “Maybe she’s scared of me, I don’t know,” After she takes a drink she turns around to glance at the kitchen, wondering how stocked their larders were. “I’ll have to take you up on that offer tonight, then. I don’t suppose you keep human eyeballs here, do you?” She sheepishly turns back to gauge their expressions. People always looked at her funny for asking that question. “I mean, if you don’t, elf eyes are fine. I’m not picky.”

Lita takes playful offense at Mah calling her a fun sucker. She'd pay for that later. She mumbles under her breath, something along the lines of 'mhm, we'll see' and leans forward to bite playfully at her shoulder. She nods then at Tessa's description of Loravelle. Spot on, and amusing. "Yup, one and only." And then when she questions the marriage, Lita shrugs. "Supposedly. They've been planning for a while seems like. But she's got about a hundred sisters on the island for it, not really but big family. So she's off running around with them usually. Keeps busy. Who could be scared of you, anyhow?" Lita offers her a playful wink but this was prior to the eyeball question, which makes her question some life choices a bit. "Hmm, probably no eyeballs, but feel free to pick some up." She couldn't exactly going judging people for their dietary preferences.

Mahri grins at Lita's playfulness, letting the two discuss Loravelle and her family. "Amazing, the Cap'n's gettin' married, eh?" Mahri reaches for Lita's hand, giving it a squeeze before extricating herself from that comfy lap. "It's been a long couple of days and I've hardly slept so I think I'm going to turn in." Leaning down to brush a kiss over Lita's mouth, the she wolf offers her good-nights and heads to the room the two shared, waving in the general direction of the spare for Tessa to settle into if she wanted.

Quintessa raises her eyebrows at the mention of a hundred sisters, imagining literally 100 copies of Lora scurrying about like mice, hiding whenever someone opens the door. “Well… If she is worried about me, tell her not to be. As long as she’s part of the family she’s my sister too.” Quintessa meant it. She did not take her ties to the guilds she was part of lightly. “In the meantime I’ll have to pick up some eyeballs when I visit Vhys. I’ll be heading there tomorrow afternoon sometime.” Quintessa finds herself smiling at the tenderness shown between these two as Mahri heads for bed, the changeling offering her a “Goodnight,” as she watches her move down the hall. When she is gone Quintessa’s sapphire and golden gaze realigns upon Lita and she tilts her head curiously. She had her alone now, but what did she want to do with this moment? Lita was a woman who had long captured Quintessa’s attention. “Who could be scared of me indeed?” She begins, searching for the bottle to refill her drink. “But not you, right? No, you seem like someone who likes the danger. You’re not one to back down from a fight, are you?” Quintessa’s voice is different now, cold and personal. The casual playfulness present before is notably gone now.

Lita gives a pout at Mahri's need for sleep but returns the kiss and swats at her rear as she heads off. She shifts the bottle of whiskey to her lap, her fingers loose around its neck as she glances to the fire, wriggling bare toes at its warmth when Tessa mentions eyeballs again. Guess she was serious after all. She's wondering if Vhys has raspberries and if she could ask Tessa to pick some up, when she feels the woman studying her carefully. Not surprising. They were mostly strangers. She turns with a smile to meet her gaze with that first question, though she suspects the woman isn't actually looking for an answer. The shift isn't subtle either. But which one was the mask? "Seems we both have reputations that proceed us." She offers. It's not quite an answer, but it is. "You prefer people to be scared of you. They're easier to manipulate that way."

Quintessa feels a smile involuntarily pull her lips into a smirk when Lita calls out how manipulative she is. She managed to say something that pierced right through that veiled armor she wore. “They are, sure, but fear doesn’t inspire loyalty, does it?” She decides to give Lita a glimpse at the truth about her, that she was discontent with being the villainess all the time. “But I didn’t want them scared so they would do what I told them; I wanted them scared so they’d stop hurting me.” There is vulnerability in her voice as she speaks, but whether it’s genuine or not is unclear. “I never tried manipulating you, however. Perhap I should have? Kasyr told me you were working for him too.” Quintessa doesn’t seem angry about it, mostly she’s just trying to piece this all together. “So were you just double-dipping or did you actually mean to betray me? You can tell me the truth, I think I understand your perspective enough to know the reason why you would side with him against me.”

Lita is not surprised to learn that Kas had told Tessa about them working both sides. She could lie, make something up, make it seem like they'd been none the wiser, or that they'd been tricked into it. It seems an unwise choice. Besides, Tessa is Mahri's friend. She doesn't want to make waves, not yet. Even so, she flickers a glance back towards the house and then to Tessa again as she mulls over her options. "I've never been loyal to someone I didn't know was afraid and chose to fight anyway." She pauses for a moment. "Neither." She says then. "I needed Kasyr's help. Cenril was siding with Xalious against vampires and unbeknownst to me at the time, Leo was making alliances with Cenril." She tries to hide it but she's still a little bitter about that. "Island's a little short on vampires and if it went that way, I wanted to know I had a way out and somewhere safe to go." She doesn't mention the accidental blood pact and asking Kasyr for help with the ritual to try and break it. "It wasn't a choice between you or him, not for me." Maybe it was selfish, but she didn't owe either of them anything, not then. "You came out alright?" She's genuinely hoping so.

Quintessa‘s expression seems to soften. This explanation leaves her somewhat disarmed. It wasn’t for money or political gain or anything like that, Lita was simply trying to secure a home for herself, just as Quintessa had been and continues to do now. The young woman sighs and allows her body to plop in the sand, crossing her legs over one another. “Well I can’t exactly fault you for that, can I? Seems like the situation was messy for everyone, not just Kas, Val, and me.” The casual levity in her voice has returned, too exhausted to keep up the stoic act. When Lita asks if she came out alright she frowns and looks away, gazing at the sea and the reflection of the moons upon the water. “I lost my home Lita. My identity. Who am I now without the Dark Forest? Who am I without Castle Blackwell? Who am I without Vailkrin?”

Lita is not at all prepared for seeing this side of Tessa. She barely knows the woman. Surely Mahri would be better equipped for this? Lita barely had her own shyte together on a good day, usually prone to her own bouts of often disastrous emotional explosions. But she understands what it means to lose a home. Before she'd come to Rynvale she hadn't known much of one. And one by one she'd lost the people that made even the island welcoming for her. It had taken a lot to come back to it and there were still days she was terrified of losing it all over again. She'd lost a part of her identity when she'd given up music but it hurt too much. And Meri had nailed that violin to the wall of her tattoo shop to honor a part of her that Lita thought she'd lost but it was still there, all these years later... She's not always one for words. So she sinks down next to the woman in the sand instead and leans close, one arm drawn across her knee in a pseudo hug. "I don't know," she says honestly, her voice soft. "But I hope I get to find out." She smiles and leans over to press a brief kiss against her cheek. "And in the meantime, you're not alone in any of it." Mahri had seen to that.

Quintessa hadn’t meant to get emotional but constantly holding it in all the time meant it slipped out whenever she least expected it. Mismatched eyes flicker back to Lita when she draws close to her, subconsciously leaning closer, craving the reassurance she would never ask for out loud. The kiss on her cheek surprises her, but she doesn’t shy away from it, a slight blush rising to her cheeks as she begins to feel embarrassed about revealing so much of herself to Lita. “I-” Quintessa smiles, a soft, genuine smile. “You’re right, I’m not alone.” Quintessa gazes upward at the two moons above, trapped in eternity in their endless dance together. “We’ll all find out who I am together.” She lays back in the sand, still warm from the heat of the sun. “I’m thinking about moving to this island- Somewhere up north. Getting away from all the politics for a while will be good for me, I think. We’ll probably see a lot more of each other if I do that.”

Lita should have brought the whiskey bottle down to the sand with her. Too much of a reach to bother for it now. And wait, Tessa was maybe moving to the island? She leans back on her palms in the sand when Tessa stretches out beside her, though she keeps her attention on the ocean. She'd always preferred the water to the stars. Even if she didn't like boats so much. "I'm okay with that." Lita says. As if she'd needed her permission. "I think having you around makes Mah happy." She glances over her shoulder, as if the she-wolf might have heard her and come running. "She worries about the people she cares for. Especially when she can't readily jump in and help." She turns then to glance down at Tessa, a just-between-us-I-didn't-tell-you-that look. "I like it when she's happy." Once again, her motives are a bit selfish surrounding Tessa but that doesn't make her offer of the beach house's spare room and a safe haven any less genuine.

Quintessa looks up at Lita, her smile growing into a cheeky grin as she understands the look she was giving her. “I like it when Mahri is happy too. When I was a kid she kept me from starving and gave me a place to stay sometimes- I owe her a tremendous amount. So long as you are good to her I’ll be good to you too.” Quintessa finally sits up to finish off her glass and stands, dusting the sand from herself. “Well, I’ve things to do tomorrow, so I should head to bed. It was this one right…” Quintessa points in the direction of the guest room, waiting for confirmation from Lita first before she heads for it. “Goodnight… Oh, and thank you for talking with me. It was… surprisingly illuminating.” She wasn’t being sarcastic when she says that, Quintessa genuinely believes she understands Lita better as a person now, not just the mysterious barefoot woman who looked like a beggar but could crush some of the strongest fighters she had ever met in single combat. “I hope we can talk again like this soon.”

Lita isn't sure she's always good to Mahri. Or good for her. She tries. Is trying. She hopes that's enough, but she's got a pretty iffy track record with relationships. Tessa stands and Lita doesn't move to follow. The night air feels good and there's a lot to mull over for a bit still. "Yup, it's the one without the wolf in it." She teases, nodding. "I'll be around." She watches the woman make her exit and while she feels better about haphazardly inviting them to stay, she's not exactly sold on her. Though that might be more her being protective of Mahri and their island than it was any actual worry or fear. Leo might have something to say. She glances towards the new house going up nextdoor just down the beach. Screw it, wasn't just his space anymore. He'd have to learn to share.